Additional Coverage:
- Michelob Ultra dethrones Modelo Especial to become America’s new top-selling beer brand (foxbusiness.com)
Michelob Ultra Reigns Supreme as America’s Top-Selling Beer
Michelob Ultra has climbed to the top of the beer industry, surpassing competitors to become the best-selling beer in America. Anheuser-Busch executives attribute this success largely to the brand’s strategic partnerships within the sports world.
Anheuser-Busch Chief Commercial Officer Kyle Norrington highlighted Michelob Ultra’s impressive portfolio of sports sponsorships, including being the NBA’s first-ever global beer sponsor and the official beer of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 and LA 2028 games. The brand also boasts a more than 30-year partnership with the PGA Tour. Norrington described Michelob Ultra’s trajectory as a “rocket ship.”
Data from Circana and NielsenIQ confirm Michelob Ultra’s dominance, showing it leading sales in both retail and on-premise locations (bars and restaurants) over the past year. Industry experts like Scott Scanlon, executive vice president of category insights at Circana, have noted the brand’s impressive growth and momentum.
This victory dethrones Constellation Brands’ Modelo Especial, which briefly held the top spot after the Bud Light controversy earlier this year. While Modelo enjoyed a period of increased sales, Michelob Ultra’s consistent growth and strategic marketing ultimately propelled it to the number one position.
Norrington emphasized that Michelob Ultra’s success has been years in the making. Since its 2002 launch, the brand has focused on consumers with active and social lifestyles, a strategy reinforced by its numerous sports partnerships.
Anheuser-Busch identified Michelob Ultra as a key growth driver back in 2019, and the brand has consistently delivered. Having already dominated draft beer sales in bars and restaurants, Michelob Ultra’s expansion into retail solidifies its position as the king of beers in the US.